Hospital appliance



April 16, 1935. F. c. wAcHs HOSPITAL APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 1, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 16, 1935. F. c. WACHS 1,998,061

HOSPITAL APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 1, 1934 2 Sheets$heet 2 Patented Apr. 1a, was

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFF'ICEY 19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hospitaland sick room appliances and has as an object to provide a support on which a patient confined to bed may be easily placed without discomfort to the patient, to elevate him from the surface of the bed. v

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a support which is so constructed that by rolling the device sidewise the patient is it) placed in position thereon to thereby entirely obviate the necessity of lifting the patient.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for facilitating the'use of a bed pan.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support of the character described which is normally in a flat position to support a patient lying down, and which is arranged for movement to a position holding the patient in a sitting posture.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a support of the character described which while capable of being rolled sidewise to facilitate placing a patient thereon, also is arranged so that when in its normal position, it will not roll from side to side unless sufficient force is applied.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support of the character described which is composed of hingedly connected sections adapted to be moved from positions of longitudinal alignment to positions angularly disposed with respect to each other for enabling a patient to be raised to a sitting posture and to also render the device more compact when not in use.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined bythe appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an appliance embodying this invention, a part thereof being broken away to illustrate structural details;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device r showing the manner in which a patient there- 05 on may be raised to a sitting posture;

Figure 3 is a cross section view through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 33;

Figure 4 is a perspective view with parts broken away illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another modifled embodiment of the invention which is more on the order of the support illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the support shown in Figure 5 in its collapsed position;

Figure 7 is an end view taken on the plane of the line 1-? of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a side view of the support shown in Figure 5 with its two complementary sections arranged at angles to each other.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates the supporting top of the device on which the patient lies. At its opposite ends the top has rocker supports 6 and 'l. The top 5 and the rocker supports 6 and l are preferably formed of a moisture proof, nonmetallic material such as fiber or a phenol condensation product.

Both rocker supports 6 and i! are hollow and the support 6 has telescoped therein an extensible section 8 provided with a head rest 9. The head rest 8 may be of any desired construction andin the present instance is shown as a fabric strip stretched between two spaced supports iii mounted on the extensible section 8.

The other rocker support 1 has its end open to provide for the reception of a bed pan H and the top 5 above the rocker support 1 and consequently above the bed pan H is cut away as at S2 to afford access to the pan.

Substantially triangular reinforcing flanges l3 are provided at both ends of the rocker support "I. The inner edges of these flanges are connected by walls l4 curved to conform to the sides of the bed pan and slidably guide the pan for movement to and from its position disposed within the rocker 1 as illustrated.

To place the patient on the support, the patient is first turned on one side and the device placed on edge with its top against the back of the patient. Then by rolling the device upon its rockers it may be readily returned to itsnormal horizontal position with the patient lying thereon.

- Besides providing means for facilitating the use of a bed pan the device has many other uses which will be readily apparent tothose familia with hospital practice.

the patient in a sitting posture, the supporting top 5 bending as illustrated to permit this dispo sition.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Figure 4. In this construction, the supporting top upon which the patient rests is in the form of a fabric l5 stretched between the edges of an arcuate metal supporting member [8.

Any manner of attaching the fabric to the supporting member It may be employed and in the present instance it is secured in position and stretched taut by lacing its side edges along thebottom of the rocker support It, as at l1. Reinforcing ribs l8 may be provided to hold the arcuate rocker support IS in proper shape.

This embodiment of the invention is particularly useful in any instance where it is necessary that the patient be held in a position permitting the passage of ventilating air under his body.

Another modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, inclusive. The structure shown herein is similar to that illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. but has several advantages thereover.

In this construction, the support is composed of two complementary sections 20 and 2 I, hingedly connected as'at 22. These sections have'substantially fiat tops and rocker supports 23 and 24, respectively, shown in the present instance as extending throughout the entire length of the sections.

The rocker supports 22 and 24, however, are not curved throughout their extent, but have a fiat bottom 25 wide enough to hold the support in a normal horizontal position, until sumcient force is applied to overbalance the same whereupon the support may be rolled sidewise in the same manner as herein described, while at the same time the necessity for holding the support while the patient is thereon, or jamming pillows under the sides thereof to prevent accidental rolling, is entirely obviated.

It is also noted that the section 2|, which supports the back and head of the patient, is wider at its outer end than the section 20. This tapered shape of the support provides sufiicient width to comfortably support the shoulders and head of the patient without objectionably increasing the width of the section 20 which forms the seat when the support is in use.

The depth or height of the support also varies from one end to the other, being maximum at the head supporting end as best shown in Figure 8 so that when in its normal substantially horizontal position, there is a slight upward inclinetion so that a specialhead rest need not be provided.

As in the embodiments hereinbefore described,

2 the rockers 23 and 24 are hollow and the rocker 23, which supports the section 20, is provided with r the reinforcing walls I! and I4, and affords a Figure 6. which reduces its overall size and facilitates handling thereof.

Straps 2'! having suitable snap fasteners may be provided to hold the sections in their collapsed positions, and a hand opening 28 affording a handle may be cut into the end wall of the section 2!.

While the bed pan II has been shown and de- 1 scribed as a metal pan of a shape to fit the hollow of the rocker support, it will be readily apparent that any desired type of pan may be employed without deviating from the scope of this invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An appliance of the character described comprising a top to support a patient, and a rocker support for said top whereby the appliance may be rocked transversely about a longitudinal axis to facilitate placing of a patient thereon.

2. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a top surface upon which the patient rests when in position on the device, and a rocker support for said top surface which allows the device to be rocked transversely about a longitudinal axis to facilitate plac ng of the patient on the device.

3. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a substantially fiat top upon which the patient rests when placed on the device, and a hollow arcuate rocker support for said top enabling transverse rocking motion of said device on a longitudinal axis to facilitate placing the patient thereon.

4. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting I the patient which comprises a substantially fiat top upon which the patient rests when in position thereon, rocker means to support said top and to enable transverse rocking motion of the device about a longitudinal axis to facilitate the placing of a patient thereon, and said substantially fiat top being flexible to enable one end portion of the device to be raised while the other end portion remains in a substantially horizontal position to enable the patient to be raised to a sitting posture.

5. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting d vice about a longitudinal axis, and a head rest at i one end of the top and projecting above the surface thereof. I

6. A device upon which a patient confined 'to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a substantially fiat top upon which the patient rests, rocker means to support the top in a position elevated above the top of the bed and to enable transverse .rocking movement of said device about a longitudinal axis, and a head rest 'adjustably mounted at one end of the device for movement endwise of the device.

'7. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a substantially fiat top upon which the patient rests when placed thereon, hollow rocker means to support the top above the surface of the bed and to enable sidewise rocking of the device about a longitudinal axis to facilitate placing the patient thereon, and

a receptacle removably received in the space within part of the hollow rocker means, the substantially flat top having an opening to afford access to the removable receptacle.

8. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a substantially fiat top formed of semi-rigid material upon which the patient rests when placed on the device, hollow rocker means to support said top from the surface of the bed and to facilitate placing the patient on the device by enabling sidewise rocking thereof about a longitudinal axis, a receptacle removably received in one end of the hollow rocker support, the top having an opening above the receptacle to afi'ord access thereto, and the top being capable of fiexure on a transverse line to enable a patient positioned on the device. to be raised to a sitting posture.

9. A device upon which apatient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a substantially trough shaped rocker support, and a supporting top stretched between the side edges of the trough shaped support. 10. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed withoutnecessitating lifting the patient which comprises a trough shaped rigid support adapted to rock sidewise about a longitudinal axis, and a fabric supporting top .upon which the patient is placed stretched bethe patient which comprises a trough shaped rigid support adapted to rock sidewise about a longitudinal axis, and a fabric supporting top engaged over the side edges of the trough shaped support, and lacings connecting the side edges of the'fabric top at the outer curved surface of the trough shaped support. 7

12. A devicev upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a substantially trough shaped rigid support adapted to rock sidewise about a longitudinal axis, a substantial- 1y fiat supporting top connecting the side edges of the trough shaped support, and said trough shaped support having its extreme bottom flat to retard rocking thereof from a normal horizontal position.

13. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a top surface upon which the patient rests when in position on the device, and rocker supporting means for said top surface having its extreme bottom fiat and its sides curved to enable sidewise rocking -of the device to facilitate placing of the patient thereon.

14. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a substantially flat supporting top .upon which the patient rests when in position on the device, said supporting top tapering in width from one end to the other, and rocker supporting means extending to the side edges of the top and providing a rocker support for the top on which the entire device may be rocked sidewise to facilitate placing a patient thereon.

15. A device upon which a patient confined to bed may be placed without necessitating lifting the patient which comprises a substantially fiat supporting top upon which the patient rests when in position on the device, said supporting top tapering in width from one end to the other, and rocker supporting means extending to the side edges of the top and providing a rocker support for the top on which the entire device may be rocked sidewise to facilitate placing a patient thereon, said rocker supporting means being higher at the wide end of the device than at its opposite end so that the supporting top is in an inclined position when the device is ,in its normal position of use. N

16. A device of the character described comprising two sections, means to hingedly connect the sections, each section having a substantially fiat supporting top, and rocker supporting means adapted to form substantially continuations of each other when the sections are in one relative position, said rocker supporting means of the sections enabling sidewise rocking movement of the entire device to facilitate placing a patient thereon, one of said sections providing a seat and the other afiording a back and head rest movable to ,a position holding a patient thereon in a sitting posture.

1'7. In a device of the character described comprising two sections each having a substantially flat supporting top, and a curved bottom. wall affording rocker supporting means, means for hingedly connecting the sections along an axis adjacent the meeting ends of the flat supporting tops of the two sections to enable angular movement of the sections from a position in fiat alignment at which the device may be rocked sidewise to facilitate placing a patientthereon to a position at which the sections are angularly disposed to support a patient thereon in sitting posture.

18. A device of the character described comprising a substantially flat supporting top, rocker means for supporting the top in a posiiton elevated from the surface of a bed and enabling sidewise rocking movement of the device to facilitate'placing a patient thereon, and said device being foldable medially of its ends to enable movement of its opposite end portions from positions in flat alignment to positions angularly disposed with respect to each other.

19. A device of the character described comprising two complementary sections each having a supporting top and rocker means to support the top from the surface of a bed, said sections being arranged end to end, and a hinged connection between the sections, said hinged connection enabling angular disposition of one section with respect to the other to enable raising a patient on the device to a sitting posture. and enabling the sections to be folded on each other to completely collapse the device for convenience in handling when not in use.

. FRANK C. WACHS. 

